[Phraea's POV]
"Garen Jermaine Dela Cerna, the man who was said to be responsible for abducting 12 US citizens finally comes to court to confess his crimes. The jury recommended a death sentence. With the death penalty looming over him, Garen is glad to accept the jury's decision."
Humahagulgol kong pinapanood ang balita sa tv tungkol sa pagsuko ni Garen. There were people outside the Supreme Court cursing him as he make his way inside.
"A-agent, kailan dadating ang rescue team?" Nanginginig ang labing tanong ko.
"I haven't heard from them since this morning."
Napahilamos ako gamit ang aking mga palad. We've been stuck in this country for fucking 26 hours. Sabi kahapon ay malapit na ang helicopter na susundo sa amin pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin.
"I am Garen Jermaine Dela Cerna, 33 years old and I am now here to confess."
"What made you come here and surrender to your crimes after years of hiding?"
"Because of guilt, your honor. I believe that it is not only the Americans I have abducted and killed but also six different nationalities." Aniya na ikinasinghap ng mga nanonood. He said it without hesitation nor even a tiny bit of fear.
"How many do you believe you killed in total?"
"I-i lost count after I reached the number 30."
Napaupo ako at niyakap ang mga tuhod ko dahil sa sobrang panginginig. Ba't wala siyang sinabi sa akin bago siya umalis? Ba't wala akong alam na may ganito siyang plano?
My tears continue to flow as I watch the interview with Garen. The judge looked at him with hatred in his eyes.
"D-do you know what could happen to him, Agent?" I looked at Agent Vancouver when the news was cut off because of the commercial.
"It's murder, kidnapping and illegal detention. Posible na ma-electrocute siya."
"Oh God!" Napayuko ako at malakas na napahagulgol. Mariin akong napapikit at mas lalong lumakas ang pag-iyak nung makita si Verdant at Rowena sa tv. They will testify. I am sure of it. Kahit ayaw ni Verdant ay wala itong magagawa dahil sa kagustuhan ni King.
"You know him?"
"H-he uhh... he's my daughter's Father." Tipid akong ngumiti at suminghot bago iniwas ang aking tingin nung makita ko ang pag-awang ng kanyang mga labi.
"Totoo ba? Totoo ba na siya ang pumatay?"
Tahimik lang akong tumango at nanghihinang sumandal sa pader. Nakatulala lang ako hanggang sa maramdaman kong tumabi ng upo si Vancouver sa akin habang may hawak na bote ng alak.
Maya is asleep. Probably exhausted from the running we did yesterday.
"He's guilty. He killed many men in the past."
"Ano ba ang rason kung bakit ginawa niya ang mga iyun?"
"Garen killed a lot of prostitutes, gangsters, rapist, and other criminals. He did that 'cause he thinks he can change the world by erasing the immoral ones from Earth."
"Kung ganoon pala ay dapat ko siyang pasalamatan. Naging madali ang trabaho ko noon dahil ang mga delikadong kriminal ay bigla-bigla na lang nawawala. Siya pala ang rason." Aniya bago sumimsim ng alak sa hawak niyang bote.
"Pero na-realize niyang mali iyun na hindi siya ang may hawak ng batas at hindi makatarungan ang paraan niya ng pagpatay." Paliwanag ko.
"I have known Garen as vicious and insane without knowing the real reason why he became like that. Noong una ay akala ko hindi na siya magbabago pero habang tumatagal ay ramdam kong natutunaw na ang galit na nakapalibot sa puso niya." Mapait akong ngumiti at huminga nang malalim. Agent Vancouver drank her beer straight from the bottle while listening.
"In the past few days, palagi siyang nagrereklamo kung gaano siya nahihirapan sa pagtulog. His mistakes in the past and the regrets are hunting him. He believes how unfair it is that he has the will to continue life even after what he did, even after he cut the lives of many people. Kaya kahit masakit, kailangan kong tanggapin ang gustong mangyari ni King. Mas mabuti na iyun kesa... k-kesa mas lalo siyang mahirapan at masaktan."
.
Hindi tumitigil sa pag-apaw ang mga luha ko habang hinahagod ang buhok ni Paige. It's today... it's Garen's final day. After six months of waiting, he'll be put inside the watching room before the execution. Rowena became the witness to the case and Garen also revealed the location where he kept all the bodies he buried.
"Are you okay?" Dinungaw ko si Paige para tingnan ang kalagayan niya. Umiiyak siya nung iniling niya ang kanyang ulo.
"T-this is what Dad wants. For his inner peace."
Mariin kong kinagat ang labi ko nung makita ang tapang sa mukha ni Paige kahit alam ko kung gaano kahirap para sa kanya na pigilan ang kanyang mga luha.
"Well, are you okay?" Ulit kong tanong at mabilis niya akong niyakap nang mahigpit. Sinubsob niya ang kanyang mukha sa leeg ko at napahagulgol.
"I don't want him gone, My! I know it's selfish, but... I need him! I love Daddy so much."
"Everything will be okay. Y-your Dad will be okay after this."
There were reporters surrounding us when we arrived but thanks to Verdant's bodyguards ay safe kaming nakarating sa kulungan.
My heart broke after finally seeing him. Diretsahang napatulo ang mga luha ko nung makita siya sa kanyang sitwasyon. He's inside a glass with handcuffs and a uniform for death row inmates.
Inangat niya ang kanyang tingin at malumanay siyang napatitig sa amin. Tears started pooling in his eyes and I know how much he wants to hug us but it's not allowed.
I glance at Paige and I touched her shoulder for comfort as she started crying. "Daddy," she sobbed.
"Please don't cry, baby. T-this is for the good of all. I am sinful."
"Admitting that you're sinful is not sinful enough to let you die. Please, Dad... i'll be a good girl."
Panay agos ng mga luha ko habang pinapakinggan si Paige. Halos dumugo na ang labi ko sa pagkagat para lang pigilan ang sarili mula sa paghikbi.
"You don't have to, baby girl. You're the perfect daughter and God knows how much I am blessed to have you... and your Mother. So blessed that makes me wonder sometimes about the things I did to deserve you 'cause I don't." Garen's tears were unstoppable. Mas lalo akong nasasaktan habang pinapanood siyang umiiyak. There is no one to wipe his tears.
"I love you, Dad... so much. I will never forget about the things you taught me. Mahal na mahal kita, Dad. Everyone might think that you're a criminal, a psychopath but to me, you will always be my hero."
Paige talked a lot of things about the past seven years when his Dad wasn't around. Nakangiti lang si Garen habang pinapakinggan ang anak at patuloy lang sila sa pag-iyak habang nagkukwentuhan.
Nung matapos ay sinabi na ni Paige ang panghuling paalam niya. Paige never hugged his Dad right after they met kahit ngayon na panghuling pagkikita na nila. Hindi kami pinayagan ng mga nagbabantay na mahawakan si Garen para sa seguridad.
"She's heartbroken." I said when Paige finally left while running.
"I am sorry, but this is for her good... for me, and for us." Malumanay ang boses na aniya.
"I love you, Garen. If I had known you sooner, things might be better."
"No, Phrey. Everything is perfect. Just meeting you and having Paige is a hella better than the things I experienced in the past. The two of you made things better and that's enough."
"I love you, Garen."
"I love you too, love. You and Paige are my everything. Thank you... thank you. You've made me the happiest and I couldn't thank you enough for that."
Lumapit ako sa kristal na pader na pumapalibot sa kanya at hinawakan iyun. I rested my forehead on the wall and closed my eyes.
"Wait for me in the afterlife, Garen."
"I will be waiting, Phraea. I will be waiting in the gates of heaven. I promise you that."
BINABASA MO ANG
Island of Insanity
Mystery / Thriller[COMPLETED] Phraea Chelsey Bautista has always been the top in her class and every professors' favorite. She has both beauty and brains, and everything a girl would dream to possess but her life is not entirely perfect. No one deeply cares for her...
